Rep. Hesselbein: Supports lifesaving ERPO legislation

September 19, 2019

MADISON – Today, Democrats joined Governor Tony Evers and Attorney General Josh Kaul in supporting a bill that would create Extreme Risk Protection Orders (ERPO) in Wisconsin. Extreme risk laws provide families and law enforcement officers with a formal legal process to temporarily reduce an individual’s access to firearms if they pose a danger to themselves or others. Representative Dianne Hesselbein (D-Middleton) released the following statement in support of this legislation:

“Extreme risk laws help ensure that a temporary crisis does not turn into a permanent tragedy and with an overwhelming majority of Wisconsinites in favor of these policies I hope to see bipartisan support on this legislation,” Representative Hesselbein stated. “I’ve assured many in my community that regardless of the gerrymandered majority in the legislature, we will continue to work with anyone willing to pass meaningful reform.”

This legislation creates an extreme risk protection temporary order in Wisconsin, mirroring existing temporary restraining order and injunction processes, and allowing families and law enforcement officers to act when they believe someone is at risk of harming themselves or others. ERPO legislation works to proactively prevent tragic shootings and suicides from occurring while ensuring necessary due process and respect for responsible gun owners.

In Wisconsin, the latest Marquette University Law Poll found that ERPO legislation has 81% approval. Since the beginning of 2018, 12 states and Washington DC have passed Extreme Risk laws, bringing the total number of states with these laws to 17.

“On the one year anniversary of the WTS Paradigm shooting in Middleton this legislation could not be more relevant. We have to take meaningful steps to help prevent more tragedies like the event at Paradigm.”